Obituary for Meroy Virginia Larson (Gillett)
Meroy V. Larson, 95, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Friday, March 9, 2018, at her home in Atlantic.
The daughter of Lester Henry and Martha Bragg Gillett, Meroy Virginia Gillett, was born at her grandmother’s house, 1003 Elm Street, Atlantic, Iowa on August 1, 1922. She was baptized at the Congregational Church in Atlantic. Following graduation from Atlantic High School in 1940, she worked at Dick Bell Insurance and the Cass County Department of Veterans Affairs for a short time. She met Dean Larson at “The Gardens,” a supper club in Walnut, Iowa. They were married January 13, 1946, after Dean returned from serving in the U.S. Army Air Corp. in the Pacific. They had six children, Candice “Candi,” Susan “Sue,” Virginia “Gini,” Robert “Bob,” Richard “Rich,” and Lisa.
Always a busy stay-at-home mom, she was also the bookkeeper for Larson Brothers Painting and enjoyed many handcrafts. She knitted, crocheted, tole painted and quilted. One of her greatest accomplishments was making a quilt for her children and each of her grandchildren. Many of her projects can be found in her children’s and grandchildren’s homes. In her later years, one of her greatest joys was a daily ride around Southwest Iowa.
She is survived by her children, Candice (Randy) Petry of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Susan Randel of Atlantic; Virginia Keefhaver of Edgerton, MO; Robert (Sandi) Larson of Ralston, NE; Richard (Diane) Larson of Atlantic; and Lisa (Tim) Shaver of Winter Park, FL; grandchildren, Jim Petry, Marci Anderson, Buffy (Tim) Larson, Alan Larson, Chris Larson, Gini Larson, Nikki (Mike) Golden, Mike Larson, Tyler (Marie) Larson, Chelsie (Gary) Van Ert, Beth (Randy) Sanford, Andy Shaver; 18 great grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert “Cork” (LaVonne) Larson; Barb Bain; Larry Larson; Helen Larson and Judy Larson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Meroy was preceded in death by her husband, Dean R. Larson; son-in-law, Bryan Keefhaver; great grandson, Camden Van Ert; brother, Luther (Julie) Gillett; sister, Martha Auerbach; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ronald Larson, Wayne Larson, Darrel (Ila) Larson, Faye Larson, Ned (Gladys) Larson and Dan Bain.
Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday evening, March 13, from 6-8 p.m. at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 14, at 10 a.m., also at Rolands in Atlantic, with Reverend Nancy Jensen of the United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.
Open visitation is planned for Tuesday, March 13, from 8:30 a.m. until time of family visitation.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Meroy’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
IN REMEMBRANCE
Meroy Virginia Larson
BORN
August 1, 1922 - Atlantic, Iowa
DIED
March 9, 2018 - Atlantic, Iowa
At the age of 95 years, 7 months and 8 days
FUNERAL SERVICE
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Roland Funeral Home - Atlantic, Iowa
OFFICIANT
Reverend Nancy Jensen
MUSICAL SELECTIONS
“In the Garden”
“How Great Thou Art”
By Heidi Hinman
CASKET BEARERS
Jim Petry
Alan Larson
Chris Larson
Mike Larson
Tyler Larson
Andrew Shaver
HONORARY BEARERS
Marci Anderson
Buffy Larson
Beth Sanford
Gini Larson
Chelsie Van Ert
Nikki Golden
INTERMENT
Atlantic Cemetery - Atlantic, Iowa
Meroy’s family thanks everyone for their support and
kindness in words, prayers and cards. They invite you to
lunch in the United Church of Christ fellowship hall
immediately following the committal service.
The daughter of Lester Henry and Martha Bragg Gillett, Meroy Virginia Gillett, was born at her grandmother’s house, 1003 Elm Street, Atlantic, Iowa on August 1, 1922. She was baptized at the Congregational Church in Atlantic. Following graduation from Atlantic High School in 1940, she worked at Dick Bell Insurance and the Cass County Department of Veterans Affairs for a short time. She met Dean Larson at “The Gardens,” a supper club in Walnut, Iowa. They were married January 13, 1946, after Dean returned from serving in the U.S. Army Air Corp. in the Pacific. They had six children, Candice “Candi,” Susan “Sue,” Virginia “Gini,” Robert “Bob,” Richard “Rich,” and Lisa.
Always a busy stay-at-home mom, she was also the bookkeeper for Larson Brothers Painting and enjoyed many handcrafts. She knitted, crocheted, tole painted and quilted. One of her greatest accomplishments was making a quilt for her children and each of her grandchildren. Many of her projects can be found in her children’s and grandchildren’s homes. In her later years, one of her greatest joys was a daily ride around Southwest Iowa.
She is survived by her children, Candice (Randy) Petry of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Susan Randel of Atlantic; Virginia Keefhaver of Edgerton, MO; Robert (Sandi) Larson of Ralston, NE; Richard (Diane) Larson of Atlantic; and Lisa (Tim) Shaver of Winter Park, FL; grandchildren, Jim Petry, Marci Anderson, Buffy (Tim) Larson, Alan Larson, Chris Larson, Gini Larson, Nikki (Mike) Golden, Mike Larson, Tyler (Marie) Larson, Chelsie (Gary) Van Ert, Beth (Randy) Sanford, Andy Shaver; 18 great grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert “Cork” (LaVonne) Larson; Barb Bain; Larry Larson; Helen Larson and Judy Larson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Meroy was preceded in death by her husband, Dean R. Larson; son-in-law, Bryan Keefhaver; great grandson, Camden Van Ert; brother, Luther (Julie) Gillett; sister, Martha Auerbach; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ronald Larson, Wayne Larson, Darrel (Ila) Larson, Faye Larson, Ned (Gladys) Larson and Dan Bain.
Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday evening, March 13, from 6-8 p.m. at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 14, at 10 a.m., also at Rolands in Atlantic, with Reverend Nancy Jensen of the United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.
Open visitation is planned for Tuesday, March 13, from 8:30 a.m. until time of family visitation.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Meroy’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
IN REMEMBRANCE
Meroy Virginia Larson
BORN
August 1, 1922 - Atlantic, Iowa
DIED
March 9, 2018 - Atlantic, Iowa
At the age of 95 years, 7 months and 8 days
FUNERAL SERVICE
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Roland Funeral Home - Atlantic, Iowa
OFFICIANT
Reverend Nancy Jensen
MUSICAL SELECTIONS
“In the Garden”
“How Great Thou Art”
By Heidi Hinman
CASKET BEARERS
Jim Petry
Alan Larson
Chris Larson
Mike Larson
Tyler Larson
Andrew Shaver
HONORARY BEARERS
Marci Anderson
Buffy Larson
Beth Sanford
Gini Larson
Chelsie Van Ert
Nikki Golden
INTERMENT
Atlantic Cemetery - Atlantic, Iowa
Meroy’s family thanks everyone for their support and
kindness in words, prayers and cards. They invite you to
lunch in the United Church of Christ fellowship hall
immediately following the committal service.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Meroy Virginia Larson (Gillett), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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